Sahara, Club Bingo

1966 Sahara Employees

Director of Sales Promotion Godfrey Miller was pictured clowning around with the sales office staff Jeanie Hevle, Sandy Miller, Dorothy Chapian and Cheryl Zaic. Miller had just returned to work after an illness that required major surgery.
Joanne Lewis was a front desk information girl and switched to poolside beverage waitress. Don Wilson was head lifeguard.
Ken West was the sound and light engineer at the resort. West earned numerous achievement award through his regular contact with other amateur radio operators around the world. West, operator of station K7PFX, acted as a relay station handling message traffic in and out of Alaska during their earthquake, and made two-way contact between servicemen and their families locally.
Louis Basil, musical director/show conductor at the resort is seen here with his wife Vicky (left) with his newborn son Eugenio.

Hotel Executive Assistant Phil Arce and his wife Dorothy.
Congo Room waiter Carlos Mares is seen with Liberace. Mares had no formal education in photography, but the 30 year old specialized in portraits of leading entertainment personalities including Liberace, Milton Berle, Pat Boone, Johnny Carson, Buddy Hackett, Shelly Berman, Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Phil Silvers, Pat Henry, January Jones, Donald O'Connor, Buddy Greco, and Teresa Brewer. Mares' most recent and most expensive effort was a portrait of Liberace. He photographed and printed a color portrait of the star on a wood cutout of a grand piano. The project took 75 hours to complete. Liberace terms it "an impressive and wonderful gesture." Mares also dabbled in chess (he has a collection of 18 sets), music, reading and tennis. Mares was married with two daughters.

1967 Sahara Employees

Forrester Mashbir joined the resort in 1967 as coordinator and director of entertainment. For over 15 years he was a TV producer and director, numbering an Emmy and two Peabody awards among his credits. He was program supervisor for many shows including Bonanza. Just prior to going to Sahara, he was a TV head a J. Walter Thompson in San Francisco and operations manager of Erwin-Wasey in Hollywood.

Charles D. Lambert joined Sahara in 1967 as manager of tours, travel and airline sales.. Lambert, from Hawaii, was born and raised on a pineapple plantation, and was known as the Island's number one surfers. Previously he was manager for both the Hawaiian Village and Sheraton Hawaii hotels.

Helen Bruno joined the Sahara in 1959. Bruno was secretary to executive director of promotion-publicity-advertising, John Romero. Bruno was an accomplished creator in the fields of art, cooking and gardening. A former concert pianist, Bruno gave her first recital at 8 and debuted in concert at 15. Her experience included Shakespeare and summer stock tours. In her spare time, Bruno takes care of her 4 bedroom home.

Euella Frees was chief personnel officer of 1,600 employees at the resort. She came to the hotel in August of 1967 from the Mint Hotel where she was secretary to the comptroller. Frees was born in Minnesota and was a Vegas resident since 1963. Her previous employment included the Air Force and Navy as a electronics technician. She keeps house for her husband and seven children, aged 16-8, and bowls and dance.

Jessie Mae Cooper was pantry woman at the resort since 1959. Cooper was a missionary of the Baptist Church in Las Vegas. A 16 year resident of Vegas and mother of three, Cooper worked at her Baptist congregation in all church auxiliaries.

Helen Bates became addressograph supervisor in 1967. She was transferred from the Thunderbird and worked for the Del Webb Corporation since 1965. Bates and her staff had the responsibility of smoothly handling 1-1/2 million pieces of mail every month, including 203,000 Saharans and 30 separate hotel mailing lists. Bates had five children, two sons who were Marines. Bates hobbies included knitting, dancing, golfing, and fishing.

Phill Thomas joined the Sahara in 1967 as entertainment coordinator. Thomas was a show business veteran of 17 years, coming to Vegas in 1962 while touring with the popular Town Pipers vocal group. He wrote the music for two stage revues, produced and director other shows on the Strip and was transferred from Mint Hotel. Born in Scranton, PA, Thomas had his own TV show in that city, studied acting, voice and stage production in New York and wrote the book, music and lyrics for a successful off-Broadway show.

	Director of Sales Promotion Godfrey Miller was pictured clowning around with the sales office staff Jeanie Hevle, Sandy Miller, Dorothy Chapian and Cheryl Zaic. Miller had just returned to work after an illness that required major surgery.
	Joanne Lewis was a front desk information girl and switched to poolside beverage waitress. Don Wilson was head lifeguard.
	Ken West was the sound and light engineer at the resort. West earned numerous achievement award through his regular contact with other amateur radio operators around the world. West, operator of station K7PFX, acted as a relay station handling message traffic in and out of Alaska during their earthquake, and made two-way contact between servicemen and their families locally.
	Louis Basil, musical director/show conductor at the resort is seen here with his wife Vicky (left) with his newborn son Eugenio.
	Hotel Executive Assistant Phil Arce and his wife Dorothy.
	Congo Room waiter Carlos Mares is seen with Liberace. Mares had no formal education in photography, but the 30 year old specialized in portraits of leading entertainment personalities including Liberace, Milton Berle, Pat Boone, Johnny Carson, Buddy Hackett, Shelly Berman, Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Phil Silvers, Pat Henry, January Jones, Donald O'Connor, Buddy Greco, and Teresa Brewer. Mares' most recent and most expensive effort was a portrait of Liberace. He photographed and printed a color portrait of the star on a wood cutout of a grand piano. The project took 75 hours to complete. Liberace terms it "an impressive and wonderful gesture." Mares also dabbled in chess (he has a collection of 18 sets), music, reading and tennis. Mares was married with two daughters.

	Forrester Mashbir joined the resort in 1967 as coordinator and director of entertainment. For over 15 years he was a TV producer and director, numbering an Emmy and two Peabody awards among his credits. He was program supervisor for many shows including Bonanza. Just prior to going to Sahara, he was a TV head a J. Walter Thompson in San Francisco and operations manager of Erwin-Wasey in Hollywood.
	Charles D. Lambert joined Sahara in 1967 as manager of tours, travel and airline sales.. Lambert, from Hawaii, was born and raised on a pineapple plantation, and was known as the Island's number one surfers. Previously he was manager for both the Hawaiian Village and Sheraton Hawaii hotels.
	Helen Bruno joined the Sahara in 1959. Bruno was secretary to executive director of promotion-publicity-advertising, John Romero. Bruno was an accomplished creator in the fields of art, cooking and gardening. A former concert pianist, Bruno gave her first recital at 8 and debuted in concert at 15. Her experience included Shakespeare and summer stock tours. In her spare time, Bruno takes care of her 4 bedroom home.
	Euella Frees was chief personnel officer of 1,600 employees at the resort. She came to the hotel in August of 1967 from the Mint Hotel where she was secretary to the comptroller. Frees was born in Minnesota and was a Vegas resident since 1963. Her previous employment included the Air Force and Navy as a electronics technician. She keeps house for her husband and seven children, aged 16-8, and bowls and dance.
	Jessie Mae Cooper was pantry woman at the resort since 1959. Cooper was a missionary of the Baptist Church in Las Vegas. A 16 year resident of Vegas and mother of three, Cooper worked at her Baptist congregation in all church auxiliaries.
	Helen Bates became addressograph supervisor in 1967. She was transferred from the Thunderbird and worked for the Del Webb Corporation since 1965. Bates and her staff had the responsibility of smoothly handling 1-1/2 million pieces of mail every month, including 203,000 Saharans and 30 separate hotel mailing lists. Bates had five children, two sons who were Marines. Bates hobbies included knitting, dancing, golfing, and fishing.
	Phill Thomas joined the Sahara in 1967 as entertainment coordinator. Thomas was a show business veteran of 17 years, coming to Vegas in 1962 while touring with the popular Town Pipers vocal group. He wrote the music for two stage revues, produced and director other shows on the Strip and was transferred from Mint Hotel. Born in Scranton, PA, Thomas had his own TV show in that city, studied acting, voice and stage production in New York and wrote the book, music and lyrics for a successful off-Broadway show.